Lilith
11-08-2005, 05:05 PM
(gg)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The "Girl from
Ipanema" may soon have to cover up, at least if she
wants to appear on a postcard in Rio de Janeiro.
Postcards of bikini-clad beauties frolicking on Rio's
famed beaches could be banned from sales in the city's
shops and newsstands in an attempt to discourage sex
tourism.
The Rio state assembly approved the ban on Tuesday
night, and state governor Rosinha Matheus has 30 days
to ratify it.
"These postcards ... attract to our city the wrong
kind of tourist and promote deplorable sex tourism,"
said the bill's sponsor, deputy Alice Tamborindeguy.
"I hope the governor sanctions this proposal because
otherwise we are doing a disservice to the state and
showing disrespect for women."
Postcards of lithe and tanned women in bikinis on
beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana are ubiquitous
at sales points in Rio. The image was immortalized in
the bossa nova song, "Girl from Ipanema."
With its sun, sea, mountains and sultry lifestyle Rio
is a popular tourist destination. But prostitution is
also rife, and the United Nations and other groups
have expressed concern that it is growing as a magnet
for foreigners seeking cheap sex.
Last March the Brazilian government launched a
campaign to stop the sexual exploitation of minors by
tourists, which including involving hotels in cracking
down on their guests.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - The "Girl from
Ipanema" may soon have to cover up, at least if she
wants to appear on a postcard in Rio de Janeiro.
Postcards of bikini-clad beauties frolicking on Rio's
famed beaches could be banned from sales in the city's
shops and newsstands in an attempt to discourage sex
tourism.
The Rio state assembly approved the ban on Tuesday
night, and state governor Rosinha Matheus has 30 days
to ratify it.
"These postcards ... attract to our city the wrong
kind of tourist and promote deplorable sex tourism,"
said the bill's sponsor, deputy Alice Tamborindeguy.
"I hope the governor sanctions this proposal because
otherwise we are doing a disservice to the state and
showing disrespect for women."
Postcards of lithe and tanned women in bikinis on
beaches such as Ipanema and Copacabana are ubiquitous
at sales points in Rio. The image was immortalized in
the bossa nova song, "Girl from Ipanema."
With its sun, sea, mountains and sultry lifestyle Rio
is a popular tourist destination. But prostitution is
also rife, and the United Nations and other groups
have expressed concern that it is growing as a magnet
for foreigners seeking cheap sex.
Last March the Brazilian government launched a
campaign to stop the sexual exploitation of minors by
tourists, which including involving hotels in cracking
down on their guests.